Chapter 16:

Arm up and behind her head, the other clutching the elbow to stretch out. Then the other way round. Rebel watched as people went past, to and from their own fights, as she warmed up for her own. She knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Rusev had a serious size advantage on her. But if she could get the win here it would be a big middle finger to Randy Orton. As she began to work on her lower body, voices echoed up the corridor.

"What part of this don't you understand?" There was no mistaking Rusev's voice, and it was angry.

"I promised you the shot, I'm keeping my word. It's just taking a little longer than I expected." It was Randy Orton.

"No, you have made a promise you cannot keep, Viper. You thought this little girl as you called her, would be a pushover." Rebel could hear the sarcasm in his voice. "You thought that a few words and threats would make her do as you wanted and hand over the title. Yet here we are, idiota kusok. Wrestlemania has been and gone and still you have no belt, and she has beaten you at every turn. This little girl you thought was no bother has turned out to be more of a man than even you are." Rebel paused her warm up frowning, as she wasn't sure if she was being insulted or if Randy Orton was.

"She is no more pushover than you are champion at this moment in time." Lana added. The distain in her voice was clear. Rebel smirked to herself as the conversation was drowned out by footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor. It looked like things weren't going too well for Randy Orton.

After her match, she was surprised to find herself summoned to Hunter's office. Rebel assumed it was something to do with her feud with Orton, although what it could have been she didn't know.

"I'm going to guess by the look you're giving me right now that whatever you want to tell me isn't particularly good." She said after taking a seat. Hunter gave her an uneasy smile in return.

"Well, probably not. Vince wants you at Money in the Bank, one way or another." He said.

"Little annoying, I'm supposed to be on holiday." She said with a frown. "I'll have to change the dates. How am I getting there then?" Hunter gave her a guilty look. "Who is it?" She asked, realising she was bound to be facing someone she didn't really want to face. She found herself correct as it was revealed that she and Fandango were to face each other at the Payback Pay per view to battle for entry to the Money in the Bank match. Rebel hoped that Roman wasn't going to be the champion come Money in the Bank, she wasn't really fancying her chances of facing him again, and voiced as much.

"I'm sure you will do just fine, whoever you face Rebel. But don't change those dates till after Payback, ok? We've only really got this angle to work at the moment, we might not be able to implement a backup plan if things don't go your way at the pay per view."

"Right o boss." She said with a mock salute, though privately she could cheerfully have throttled him.

Talking to her friends that evening at the bar, it seemed they were in a similar mindset. Though they appreciated the difficulty of the situation.

"It's like Hunter said," Roman advised as he picked up his bottle. "It's good for the ratings right now. People are loving the feud."

"And you can bet Orton will take advantage of that." Seth added as Roman paused to drink. Rebel confessed that was what was worrying her. The rumour that Orton would be in the Money in the Bank match was already pretty strong. He'd be delighted to somehow stop her from getting in to the match. And he'd do it any way he could. There were several words about how they would love to castrate or otherwise injure the man, including feeding him to wild pigs. Dean voiced this would be a cruelty to the pigs, they probably couldn't digest something with that much venom.

As Payback got closer, it was clear Fandango, acting on Randy's orders, fancied his chances were a lot higher than expected to win. He took advantage of this bravado, attacking Rebel twice in the run up to the event. Each time Rebel came out on top. The final RAW before the event, Rebel found herself called down to the ring by none other than Vince McMahon himself. Fandango was called down shortly after.

"So. It seems there's some issues that need working out between you. Perhaps you're still jealous she won the Rumble after you were sent home ill?" Vince said, looking at Fandango and receiving a look of disgust and hatred in response. "Whatever it is, you two can sort it out on Sunday. Now, it's no secret the winner of your match gets a space in the Money in the Bank event. But…let's make it interesting." He looked at Rebel and smiled, and she felt her heart sink. What was he up to?

"Interesting how?" Asked Fandango impatiently.

"Well, let's see," He paused in the dramatic way only the chairman of the WWE could. "I've got it. It's quite simple, brilliant really. We're going to make your match a steel cage match." The crowd roared as one and Fandango's face dropped. Rebel forced herself to hide the sudden urge to strangle the chairman and flashed a delighted grin at Fandango.

"Mr McMahon sir, you shouldn't have." Rebel said in to the mic like he'd just presented her with chocolate and flowers. "A steel cage match is so sweet of you."

"Well, I do like to treat my wrestlers well. So, a steel cage match it is."

"You have got to be kidding me." Fandango finaly found his voice.

"I'm not one for practical jokes. You'd have to speak to my son in law and his friend Shawn for that." He said with a grin. He then turned to say something to Rebel, only to have the woman push him aside and take the nasty spear that Fandango had aimed at the chairman. As she rolled on the floor winded and gasping for air, Fandango scrambled to his feet somewhat ashen faced at his own stupidity. Vince was on his knees now, motioning for a medic to come check Rebel over. Hunter came running from backstage followed by Steph, and several longstanding members of the locker room. As Steph checked on her father, Hunter knelt by Rebel who was by now getting her breath back.

"You ok?" he asked

"Wasn't expecting…him to be…that stupid," She gasped. "Vince OK?"

"He's fine." Steph called as she joined he husband, Vince now standing nearby. The members of the locker room were corralling Fandango in to a corner as the crowds went insane.

"I want a cell." Rebel gasped the words out as she finally managed to regain control of her breathing.

"Rebel, no," Hunter said with a frown.

"I want his ass in a Hell in a Cell." She demanded as she sat up. She didn't see the grin Vince gave his daughter and Son in law. Rebel knew that backstage, she was probably going to be hung drawn and quartered but didn't care. She was pissed.

"Don't be stupid about this Rebel." Hunter admonished, though the caution in his voice was disrupted somewhat by the smile on his face and the ill disguised delight in his eyes.

"Fine, Inferno match then." She got to her feet with a helping hand from Vince himself.

"You can't have that one Rebel." He chuckled.

"Why not? I'll kick his ass seven ways from Sunday." She said with a scowl.

"I'll give you a Hell in a Cell." Vince replied. He announced the decision to the arena, which as expected went insane. He was quick to add that Fandango only had himself to blame.

And as Rebel had thought once backstage she was being verbally hung drawn and quartered by her friends.

"You're going to get yourself killed, you are." Seth said with a shake of the head. Dean sat with a head in his hand, leaning on the nearby equipment box in disbelief.

"Stupid ass." Roman remarked as he clipped her upside the head with a half-hearted smack.

"In all fairness he tried to spear the chairman of the WWE. How did he think that was going to end up? He's lucky he's not been suspended." Rebel retorted with half a laugh. "A Hell in a Cell is the least of his worries." It was far from a falsehood. Upon getting backstage he had been reamed out by Steph and Hunter and very narrowly avoided being suspended by the smallest of margins. If it weren't for the fact that Payback was that weekend, Rebel had no doubt in her mind he would have been.

"So, I take it you want to win this, hmm?" Roman asked, bringing her thoughts back to the match itself.

"Course I do. I want to be in Money in the Bank." Her incredulous look made the three men laugh.

"He means the Money in the Bank match. A lot of people are wondering if you'll go for round two, y'know." Seth said with a grin.

"Well…I might wait till someone else has it. I can't fail a second time against you." She said with a look that suggested she was still unhappy with her loss.

"Stop beating yourself up over that, Rebel. You did great and you know it. I mean, you main evented Mania after all." Dean said with a kind smile.

"Yeah, I know, but I still didn't win the belt. I've not won a belt yet have I? I've not really been high enough in the rankings to do it. I was kinda hopeing that would have been it, y'know?" She explained and got sympathetic smiles and comments that she would win one soon, it wouldn't be long. That Money in the Bank may well be her ticket to the title.

The tension in the air on the day of Payback lead to an explosive main event match between Rebel and Fandango. It was clear from the start neither were willing to give up the chance of being in the Money in the Bank match. At least, it was to the crowds. Behind this apparent desire for the prize the reality was quite different. Fandango was determined to get his revenge on Rebel for taking what he saw as his chance to win the Royal Rumble. He wanted her unable to compete, he wanted her career over. Rebel on the other hand was determined she would show both him and Randy Orton she was more than capable of destroying them, even if she had lost at Wrestlemania. It was to this end that the end of the match saw both of them losing more blood than perhaps those backstage were comfortable with, beaten, battered and bruised with various implements, but a victory to Rebel.

She managed to get backstage with no help before having to concede defeat and sit down. She was surprised to see Hunter making his way over to her quickly followed by Doc Amaan, Roman, Dean and Seth.

"Look at the state of you, Rebel." Hunter shook his head but failed to conceal the smile on his face. Rebel guessed that Vince and Steph were pleased with the outcome as well.

"You should see the other guy." She smiled, her mouth full of blood from a split lip. There was a chuckle from the others as the group waited for a quick assessment from Doc Amaan, who determined he'd get a better look at her back in the medical room. He told her to take her time getting there, and he would see her when she arrived. Rebel nodded and went to get up, only to be told by Hunter to sit her ass down for a few minutes, that it was clear she had no broken bones or required immediate hospital treatment so she could afford five or ten minutes to rest before going to medical. He excused himself as Fandango came up through the curtain in a state little better than Rebel, before surprising everyone with what they could only determine was a respectful nod towards her and walking off towards medical himself.

Rebel waited for a few more minutes before deciding she should get her backside to the doctor herself, and with some help from Dean stood up and the group slowly made their way to the medical bay. As they walked raised voices could be heard from further down the corridor. It was Fandango yelling at someone, and it soon became clear who.

"Damn it, Orton, can you not see what state I'm in? That little girl, as you keep insisting she is, is more capable of ending a career than you are!"

"IT won't be long now we're wearing her down. You know-" Randy was abruptly cut off by laughter from the injured man.

"No, you stupid man, it won't be long till I end up at home with a career in ruins!" he exclaimed. "Get it through your skull, Orton. She's more than capable, hell she's downright vicious! It's a wonder she hasn't ended the pair of us yet. Or rather, ended you. I'm not giving her the chance to do it to me."

"What exactly are you trying to say Fandango?" There was a dangerous edge to Orton's voice now, making Rebel and her friends look at each other concerned. The malevolence was easily matched by Fandango.

"What I AM saying is that I am done playing these stupid games, Orton. I've been bested by this girl, no, this woman time and time again. She's more than earned my respect. I'm done. Find someone else to help you with…whatever it is you've got against her. Rosa and I are out." There was the sound of footsteps as Fandango came across the corridor and passed the group. He either didn't notice them, or didn't care. As they walked past the entrance to the corridor he'd come from, Rebel saw a shocked Randy Orton rooted to the spot with his plans in tatters around him. She was tempted to say something, anything, but her friends kept her walking. It was probably for the best, she thought as they neared the medical bay. The last thing she needed was to poke the snake right now, especially in her condition. As she had herself checked over, and was revealed to need stitches for a cut on her eyebrow at which Roman exclaimed they were now twins, Rebel realised she would now be facing Dean in the same money in the bank match. She also had a phone call to make.

The phone call would wait till the following day, it was decided. Rebel needed a good night's sleep after her match and so it wasn't till she was already at the arena for a few hours she decided to make the call. Tori was back home in England, and Rebel was looking at a five hour time difference between the pair of them. She was surprised to have Tori call her first however.

"Hey Bel!" Her voice was as usual exuberant and over enthusiastic.

"Hey Tori. You on the coffee already?" Rebel asked with a laugh as she sipped at a cup of the same liquid gold.

"It's mid day. Of course I am. I'm headed to the travel agents. After last night I figured the holiday dates would be changing." Her friend replied.

"That's exactly what I was calling to talk to you about actualy." Rebel thanked her and her friend uncanny ability to be in tune, despite being an ocean apart. "How about we plan for mid August? That way you can stay for Summerslam?" Rebel suggested.

"OOOH, I like that Idea. Think you can introduce me to Brock Lesnar?" Tori asked. Rebel laughed.

"You know I don't get on with him."

"That's why I said it. I'll compromise on Roman Reigns." Tori said also with laughter. There was general joking and talking about plans for during their holiday as they talked, Tori planning to stay on the phone till she reached the travel agents.

"I'm just across the road now. So if we say from the 15th to the 25th?" She asked as the sound of passing cars echoed down the phone line.

"Sounds good to me. I should be drama free by then." Rebel picked up her coffee cup and stood intending to retrieve some more.

"Awesome. I'll give you a bell when I've boo- AAAArgh!" Tori's voice was cut off by a high pitched scream, the sound of brakes screeching and a loud thud. It was followed by the sound of the phone hitting the floor from what Rebel could tell, then yells and someone yelling to call the police and an ambulance, the sound of a car speeding off in the background.

"Tori? Tori? TORI!" Rebel knew she was yelling and attracting the attention of everyone in the catering area right now, but she didn't care. "Damn it, Tori, ANSWER ME!" There was a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach as the voices on the other end of the phone began to escalate in urgency. She heard someone calling for an ambulance, then the line went dead.

"No…no no no no no!" She managed to herself as she franticly redialled. There was no answer. It rang several times, then cut off. Rebel tried again, and again, the final time the ring tone being engaged. Rebel sat down heavily, unaware of the sudden lack of colour in her face as several people looked over concerned.

"Are you ok Rebel?" asked Natalya as she came over.

"My…something happened…to my friend I was on the phone…then there was a bang…screaming…I don't know. I can't get hold of her." She said as the realisation of the combination of sounds made her aware of what had happened. "I think she was hit by a car…and I think the driver drove off."

Rebel had already fought that evening by the time Tori's mum rang her to let her know what had happened. Tori had been crossing the road opposite the travel agents. At a zebra crossing no less. When a driver on their own mobile phone ploughed in to her, sending her skywards and cracking her head on the car's window, before driving off and leaving her for dead. Her friends watched on as she broke down, her face detailing every little bit of concern and upset at her friends condition.

"How bad is it, Bel?" Asked Roman as his sister in all but blood hung ip the phone.

"She's in intensive care. They…they don't know if she will recover at the moment. They're optimistic, she's going to be damn lucky to get away with just a broken arm, bruises and bleeding at best. Brain damage at worst from her head hitting the windscreen, never mind internal injuries. The bastard just drove off, Rome. He left her there, and just drove away." Rebel wiped her eyes taking her stage makeup with the tears that were flowing. "I need to go home…I need to see her."

"Go talk to H. I'm sure he will understand." Dean suggested. Rebel nodded. If anyone would understand, it would be Hunter.

Her request for holiday had been approved without fail. She had arranged for travel the day after Smackdown upon getting an update that night saying Tori was stable. So she decided to attend Smackdown, giving her the gap between then and RAW the following Monday to go home and visit her friend. It was three hours before show time and Rebel was walking from the changing room to meet her friends. Her mind was focused on the nights events, and she was almost so deep in her thoughts she didn't hear her phone ringing.

"Hello?"

"Bel? It's Angela." It was Tori's mum. The tone of her voice instantly had Rebel on alert.

"Is everything ok Angela?"

"Oh Bel…I'm so sorry Bel." Her heart plummeted through her stomach, knees and possibly the floor below.

"No…no she can't be…"Rebel began, her eyes instantly watering as she grasped for the wall nearby.

"She's gone honey…she's gone."

"She…no.." She sunk to the floor, barely aware of what she was doing as she did so.

"I'm sorry Rebel, but Tori died two hours ago. She'd dead Rebel. She's dead."